Rebecca BurkoskiRebecca Burkoski was excited to be invited to present at the Learning Specialists Association of Canada national conference.

Support for struggling students subject of conference presentation

A UWindsor program that takes a holistic approach to helping students improve their academic performance is the subject of an invited presentation at the national conference of the Learning Specialists Association of Canada, online next month.

Tracy Beemer, co-ordinator of the Bounce Back program, and Rebecca Burkoski, transition and retention program support, will discuss their work to adapt Bounce Back during pandemic restrictions.

Tracy Beemer“We plan to focus on how we have managed to continue fostering the community-building aspect of the program amidst a pivot to a completely online delivery of the program,” says Beemer.

“Since this sense of community is such an integral part of our program — and well-being outcomes — we’ve had to look at ways to re-invent the cohesive experience that students crave, now more than ever.”

The conference theme is “Connect, Include, Engage, Empower: Reinventing Learning Communities” and will highlight efforts to move pedagogy, strategies, and services online to reach students.

Burkoski says that as a relatively new member of staff, she is excited to engage with others across the country.

“Knowing that we are making a difference to students was enough for me to love this job,” she says. “But it’s such an honour to get to share our knowledge and experiences with other learning specialists.”

The conference will take place May 17 to 19 and is hosted online by Concordia University.

“I think this would be a great conference for those who can attend, whether they are students, staff, or faculty members,” says Burkoski.

Find agenda and registration details on the conference website.